Browse all categories
102 Show & Tell Posts Today

Collectors Weekly

At the beginning of the 20th century, when 12-string guitars first appeared in the United States, the instruments were considered novelty items, curiosities, freaks of guitar making that were beneath the dignity of serious companies like Martin and Gibson. But when Blind Willie McTell picked up a Stella 12-string in 1927, and then basically never put it down, the instrument was suddenly legitimized.

A folk singer named Huddie Ledbetter, better known as Lead Belly, had actually made the Stella 12-string his own earlier, in 1912, but Lead Belly had so many scrapes with the law and spent so much time in prison that he wouldn’t get a chance to popularize the ringing tones of the 12-string until the 1930s and ’40s. Even then, his biggest hit, “Good Night Irene,” came after his death in 1949.

Pete Seeger and the Weavers kept the 12-string sound alive until the 1960s, when groups like the Rooftop Singers (“Walk Right In”) made it the go-to instrument on the commercial folk scene. Gibson was ready with its B-45 in 1961 and its B-25 in 1962, while Martin got on board a bit later with its D12-20 in 1964 and D12-35 in 1965...

The loudest noise in 12-strings, though, was made by Rickenbacker, thanks to a custom, one-of-a-kind 12-string version of its 325 hollowbody electric guitar made in 1964 for John Lennon of the Beatles. George Harrison also became a Rickenbacker acolyte, playing his Rickenbacker 360 12-string on songs like "A Hard Day’s Night."

One musician who liked that sound a lot was Roger McGuinn of the Byrds. Reportedly, he bought a 360-12 after seeing the movie named after of the famous Beatles song. He went on to play a 12-string on one of the Byrds’ biggest hits, “Turn Turn Turn.”

By the late 1970s, newer companies like Taylor made acoustic 12-strings part of their lines. Once again, a key musician would cement the instrument's sound in our collective soundtrack. In this case it was Neil Young who, while vacationing in Florida, purchased a Taylor 12-string, an 855, at a local music shop. Young liked his 855 so much he ordered a second, and Taylor subsequently gained widespread recognition when Young’s 855 figured prominently in his concert film, "Rust Never Sleeps."

About our sources | Got something to add?

▼ Expand to read the full article ▼

Show & Tell

Billy Joels Ovation 12 String from the Russian tour - Guitarsby LaurieV…
in Guitars
2 years ago
See all 12 string guitars posts

Interviews & Articles

Martins vs. Gibsons: The Evolution of American Acoustic Guitars

I started playing guitar when I was pretty young and bought my first guitar when I was 10 or 11. Like a lot of people of my genera… [more]

Archtops, Hollowbodies, and Jimi's Legacy

I grew up in upstate New York in Rochester, and started playing guitar when I was about 10 years old. We had this place in Rochest… [more]

Les Pauls, Strats, and Other Cult Guitars

I started out primarily as a collector and the business aspect of it evolved over time, almost by accident. I didn’t start out wit… [more]

Legendary Luthier Rick Turner on Howe-Orme Guitars

I first started coming across Howe-Orme instruments when I was an apprentice guitar repairman in Boston in 1963. Their guitars hav… [more]



Best of the Web (“Hall of Fame”)

Vintage Guitars Info

Vintage Guitars Info

This great reference site features detailed sections for vintage guitar makers including Gibson, Fender, Martin, Gr… [read review or visit site]

Vintage Guitar and Bass

Vintage Guitar and Bass

Want to see all the old brochures and ads for your favorite vintage axe? Check out this great site, which showcases… [read review or visit site]



Clubs & Associations: Guitars

Other Great Reference Sites: Guitars

Top eBay Auctions

Showing 60. See all 104 by  highest bid • most watched • completed
'12 Rocketfire Usa M1926 Strat Style Electric Guitar W/g&g Tweed Case Total 60'sGorgeous '12 Gibson Usa J45 J-45 Custom Acoustic Electric Guitar W/ohsc1996 Rickenbacker 360 12 String Electric Guitar With Original Case. Mapleglo!Rickenbacker 620/12 Fireglo Red 12 String Electric Guitar Made In 2007Epiphone Sg Double-neck G-1275 6 String / 12 String: Mint Check It Out! Rickenbacker 620/12 Mg Mapleglo Electric 12-string Guitar With Original CaseMartin Guitar 1971 D-12-35 Twelve String, RosewoodPristine 1996 Rickenbacker 360/12 Electric Guitar - FiregloRickenbacker 360/12 Maple-glow - Mint Vintage 1940 Kalamazoo Kg-12 By Gibson With Original Geib Case-low ActionVintage 1981 Ibanez Artist 12-string Electric Guitar Japan Ar-112av, World Ship.Rainsong Jm3000 Jumbo Carbon Fiber Acoustic Electric 12-string Guitar Ovation Preacher Deluxe 12 String 1283 Made In Usa, Ultra Rare!! Intl. Ship Ok!Rickenbacker 360/12 Midnight Blue With Original Hard Case Electric Guitar1975 Martin D-12-28 Acoustic Guitar With Original Case. Minty Condition! Ovation Legend - 1858 12 String Acoustic/electric Guitar Made In UsaVintage 70's Fender Bassman 100 W 4x12 CabCarvin Cobalt 980-12 String, Handcrafted Acoustic Guitar, Original Carvin CaseJohnson Millennium Stereo 250 Head With J12 Pedal12-string Martin D12x1 Acoustic Guitar Made In Usa With Guitar Research HardcaseReeves Custom 12 Head With Power ScalingTaylor 12 String Guitar 355ce Excellent Condition. Epiphone Sg Double Neck 6& 12 String Electric GuitarProject Guitar Sweet Raven Electric Guitar 12 String Blemish Free Project GuitarAgile 12 Electric 12 StringAlvarez Yairi Dy-80 12 String Acoustic GuitarTakamine F400-s Lawsuit Japan Made Acoustic 12 String Guitar D 28 Clean HardcaseTakamine Ef400s 12 String Acoustic, Vtg 1978, Spruce & Rosewood, Takamine Eg345c 12-string Acoustic Electric GuitarIbanez Artcore Guitar,as83-vls-12-01,335 Style,good Cond,no ReserveGibson B45-12 Sunburst Acoustic Guitar Vintage 1967 12 String Hagstrom Vintage Electric 12 String GuitarAlvarez Aj60sc12 Artist Series Jumbo 12-string Cutaway Acoustic-electric GuitarDanelectro Guitar 12 StringFender 12 StringIbanez Aef1812e-bk 12 String Acoustic-electric BlackIbanez Artcore Guitar, Af75, Trs 12- 04,exc Cond,175 Style,no ReserveIbanez Artcore Afs75t-trd-12-01 Hollow Body Bigsby CherryFender 12-string Acoustic Guitar Dg 10/ 12Sigma-martin 12 String Acoustic Guitar....older...plays ExcellentSeagull Model S12 12 String Guitar With Godin Quantum PickupNew 12 String Semi Hollow Body Electric Guitar Cherry Sunburst Finish1965 Gibson B-45n 12-string Acoustic Guitar W/hcEko Ranger 12 String From The 1970'sGuitar, Jay Turser Jt-xg2/tr Double Neck 12 Over 6 With Hard Shell Case.Gabbanelli 12-string Acoustic Electric Guitar W/caseYamaha Fg 410 12 StringYamaha Fg 413s Solid Top 12-string Acoustic Guitar + Gig BagNew Double 12/6 String Neck Sg Electric Guitar Builder Kit ProjectUnfinished Oregon Alder Stratomaster Jazzmaster Style Body Humbucker 4# 12oz Red Label Vintage Yamaha Fg230-12 MijHagstrom 12 String Guitar 1960's Vintage W/ Original Plush Case Vintage Fender Villager 12 String Acoustic 60's Project Guitar"rare" Cg Conn 12 String Dark Brazillian Rosewood Aged Solid Spruce TopNew Quilted Maple Top Left Handed 335 12 String Guitar Sunburst Finish12bh7a Rca _6 Pcs New Nos/nib 1970'sVintage Yamaki Deluxe No.12 Folk Acoustic Guitar Made In JapanJoyo Jp 02 Power Supply Adapt 9v 12v 18v For Boss Voodoo Lab Zoom Effect PedalWashburn D12s Mel Nat Acoustic Guitar In Roadrunner Case5 Nos/nib Rca 12bh7a - Never Used

Recent News: 12 String Guitars

Source: Google News

Paul McCartney Concert Review
Blogger News Network (blog), May 20th

Paul was handed a 12 string guitar to play “Another Day,” another song that somewhat lessened the crowd's enthusiasm. The energy was boosted again with “And I Love Her,” which brought a collective response of peaceful joy from the crowd. Moving back...Read more

Los Paisanos honored at conjunto fest
San Antonio Express, May 19th

“The brothers loved music. When they were young, they had followers galore.” The award was not taken lightly by its recipients. “It's a real honor for our family,” said Juan Johnson, who plays bajo setxo, the Mexican 12-string guitar tuned in fourths...Read more

David Bowie: 'He weighed about 98lb for Young Americans and was the whitest ...
Daily Mail, May 18th

He took out a battered 12-string guitar and played Changes and Life On Mars, one after the other, and they were amazing. I stopped him and asked: 'Why are you playing them on this battered guitar?' And he said: 'I write everything on this because if I...Read more

[VIDEO] New postal stamp honors Tejano music icon, Lydia Mendoza
NBC Latino, May 17th

With only her 12-string guitar to accompany her hearty voice, she recorded more than a thousand songs in her 70-year career. “Mendoza was a true American pioneer, whose unique voice and style of singing, paved the way for a whole new generation of...Read more

US Postal Service Commemorates Tejano Singer Lydia Mendoza With Stamp
Fox News Latino, May 17th

Mendoza performed the Spanish-language music of the Texas-Mexico borderlands, singing to and about the poor and working-class people on both sides of the Rio Grande. Mendoza was soulful and usually accompanied only by her 12-string guitar...Read more

Pete Seeger and fans enjoy sharing songs
Albany Times Union, May 16th

Pete, meanwhile, alternated between his 12-string guitar and his long-neck banjo. There were, of course, those classic Pete songs — "Turn, Turn, Turn" (with additional children's-oriented verses penned by Pete's wife Toshi) and the rousing encore of...Read more

Tejano Matriarch Immortalized By U.S. Postal Service
Texas Public Radio, May 16th

Mendoza was born to a musical family in Houston in 1916 and she progressed in her talents, eventually mastering the 12-string guitar. Mendoza is one of several pioneering musicians being honored in the postal services' Music Icon stamp series. "She's...Read more

Houston-born singer Mendoza honored with US stamp
San Francisco Chronicle, May 15th

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Lydia Mendoza's heartbreaking voice and 12-string guitar could, in the words of Flaco Jimenez, sound "like the stars falling from the sky." Many consider Mendoza the greatest Mexican American female singer of the 20th century...Read more